1 . With the only giant pandas, Yang Guang and Tian Tian, in the United Kingdom set to return to China from Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo, crowds have been gathering around the panda enclosure(围栏) to bid them farewell.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the conservation charity that owns and manages Edinburgh Zoo, said that the pandas will leave for China, but the exact date and time of departure will not be announced because of safety and security reasons.

Yang Guang, whose name means sunshine, and Tian Tian, whose name translates to sweetie, arrived at the Edinburgh Zoo in December 2011 as part of a 10-year agreement between the zoological society in Scotland and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The agreement was later extended by two years because of the pandemic.

Since their arrival, Yang Guang and Tian Tian have accumulated a great deal of public interest, and the BBC billed the panda enclosure as a “rock star” attraction that has been at the top of the must-see list of more than 600,000 visitors to the zoo each year. Vanessa Moreland-Strange and Andrew Strange, a couple living near Edinburgh, brought their two children to the zoo recently to say goodbye to the pandas. The family told China Daily they had visited the panda enclosure 28 times since 2018 and “every time was the best time”.

To bid farewell to Yang Guang and Tian Tian, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has been holding a series of events since January that have proved extremely popular. Activities priced between 30 and 500 pounds ($38 and $630) included a one-hour guided tour and behind-the-scenes experience to help the keepers feed Yang Guang. The tickets sold out in just 90 minutes. The zoological society members said the sales raised more than $53,280 and the money will be used by the charity to help save wildlife from extinction.

1. Why was the pandas’ departure time not made public?

A．Due to safety concerns.	B．Due to less attention.
C．Due to weather conditions.	D．Due to a change in the plan.

2. How many years have the giant pandas been in the UK?

A．8.

B．10.

C．12.

D．14.

3. What is the raised money intended to do?

A．To prevent wildlife dying out.	B．To host a chain of events.
C．To guarantee safe return of pandas.	D．To promote cultural exchange.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Attractions at the Edinburgh Zoo

B．Awareness of Giant Panda Protection

C．Farewell to only Giant Pandas in the UK

D．Conservation Achievements in Edinburgh

2 . Bing, also known as a Chinese pancake, is a traditional Chinese recipe, similar to pancakes. It is commonly made of dough (面团).     1    , be prepared to learn how to make these yummy recipes!

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

Combine the ingredients for the dough (flour, salt, and cooking oil). Knead (揉) the dough until it has a soft consistency that isn’t too wet. During this time, you can adjust the consistency, for example, by adding more oil or flour.     2    .

Step 2: Separate the dough

Separate the do ugh into different pieces, the size that you want.     3    , don’t separate it too much, and vice versa. You can use a rolling pin to help with making a circle. Chinese Pancake is commonly made in a circle shape, but can be any shape you want!

Step 3: Add spring onions

Add spring onions to the dough.     4     and sprinkle them on the bing. This gives the flavor for the cong you bing. The name “cong” in cong you bing actually refers to the spring onions. These can also be called scallions. green onions, and onions. You can also knead the dough again to mix the onion in.

Step 4: Fry both sides

Fry both sides of the pancake on low-medium heat until the sides are golden brown. It takes 3-5 minutes per side. Remember to take it out before the sides get dark brown. Fry for a short time if you want a soft pancake, and fry it for a longer time to make it crispier.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy!

    5    , but can be served in formal meals as well.

A．Divide it into ten equal pieces

B．Cut the onions into tiny pieces

C．It can be eaten as a casual food

D．Make sure you have enough dough

E．If this is already mouthwatering to you

F．If you want to make the pancake bigger

G．Heat up the pan while still working on the dough

3 . Could short interactions with other people’s dogs really be good for us?

Nancy Gee, a professor from Virginia Commonwealth University, says there’s growing evidence that levels of the stress hormone cortisol (激素皮质醇) drop in people after just 5 to 20 minutes spent interacting with dogs — even if it’s not their own pet. “Also, we see increases in oxytocin, which is a feel-good kind of bonding hormone,” she says. And it’s not just humans that benefit from these brief exchanges. “We see the same thing in the dogs, so the dogs’ oxytocin also increases when they interact with a human,” says Gee.

And of course, not everyone is a dog person. “They’re not necessarily going to be great for every single person. But for people who really get it, who really connect with the animals, they really can make a big difference,” Gee says.

Research on the health benefits of human interactions with animals — especially with dogs — has exploded in recent years, thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. Though the field is still young, Gee says the quality of the evidence is improving all the time, including more randomized controlled trials looking at short interactions. “We’re seeing really nice effects,” she says.

Professor Megan Mueller, whose research focuses on the psychology of human-animal relationships, says watching dogs sniff the grass or explore the world around them makes us pay more attention, too. “They sort of pull you out of your phone and into whatever environment that you’re in.” She says there’s some evidence that the act of really touching a dog might be an important part of their calming effect. For instance, one study done in Canada found that college students reported their improved learning results and reduced feelings of homesickness after brief interactions with dogs, and that effect was much bigger in those who really got to pet the animals. She’s currently running a study that’s found similar results.

1. What can we say about humans’ interacting with other people’s dogs?

A．It’s a two-way street.	B．It’s a risky behavior.
C．It’s human nature.	D．It’s an act of love.

2. Why have so many researchers studied human-animal interaction?

A．This field is new to them.	B．They are supported financially.
C．There is already much to refer to.	D．The research methods are mature.

3. What has Mueller discovered in her study?

A．Watching dogs helps us communicate better.

B．Walking dogs stops us playing on the phone.

C．Interacting with dogs randomly affects us less.

D．Touching dogs makes us learn more effectively.

4. What's the suitable title for the text?

A．Owning a Dog Is Not for Everybody	B．Petting Dogs Briefly Does Us Good
C．Dogs Interact with Humans on Purpose	D．Dog Ownership Is a Big Responsibility

6 . Socrates, Galileo, Marie Curie, Einstein ... What did these great thinkers have in common? They all practiced deliberate doubt and used it as a tool to improve their thinking and generate creative ideas.

    1     It is about suspending our certainty and letting go of our preconceived (先入为主的) notions in order to explore new ideas and perspectives. When we’re certain of something, we tend to stop looking for alternative explanations or possibilities.     2     Doubt can, of course, be unsettling, but it can also result in a greater understanding of a subject and inspire fresh thoughts and insights.

    3     But it doesn’t mean we should use it all the time. While deliberate doubt can be a valuable tool for generating creative ideas and exploring complex problems, it can also be counterproductive if it is not practiced in the right way.

It’s important to keep in mind that deliberate doubt is not constant doubt. If we’re continuously doubting our own ideas, we’ll be less likely to pursue them and see them through to completion.     4     We spend so much time doubting everything and end up not doing anything.

    5     We can become self-critical and unsure of our abilities, which can undermine our self-esteem. As a result, we may be too afraid to try new things or take risks.

To avoid these traps, it’s important to strike a balance between doubt and certainty, and to use doubt as a tool to stimulate creative thinking and exploration, rather than as a means of undermining ourselves or others.

A．Deliberate doubt can also lead to a lack of confidence.

B．But when we doubt, we’re forced to consider other perspectives.

C．In this case, deliberate doubt can prevent us from making decisions.

D．When practiced all the time, deliberate doubt can lead to a different belief.

E．By turning doubt into a deliberate process, we open ourselves to new possibilities.

F．Deliberate doubt is the practice of actively questioning our beliefs and assumptions.

G．Deliberate doubt can help us to develop a more open-minded approach to the world.

7 . Being a plastic-free gardener is an important step for having an eco-conscious garden. Here’s how to garden by using alternatives to plastic plant pots.

Lots of pots

    1    . Most are made of plastic, and come in a variety of colours. None of these plastics are readily recyclable. Half a billion plastic pots ended up in landfill or being burned each year.

Plastic-free plant pot alternatives

The great news is that, the choice of alternative plastic-free pots is fantastic.     2    .

Ceramic (陶瓷) pots

Though expensive, when it comes to plant pots, there is not much that compares to the appeal of hand-made ceramic pots. Ceramic pots are made from the firing of clay.     3    . Therefore, if collected steadily over the years, they become the backbone of any working garden, offering a ready pot for a month or two of growing on;a permanent home for repeat-flowering flowers lasting for seasons; or a decorative feature for a greenhouse.

Wool pots

Made from raw washed wool pots, these cute little pots are a very attractive natural alternative to plastic.       4    , but they also make a perfect pot for decorative plants that will sit in a striking position while they are growing larger — a great talking point for plastic-free gardening.

Hemp (麻) pots

Hemp pots are a great alternative to the plastic pots used to grow tomato and potato plants.     5    . They come in a range of sizes, from around five to forty litres (公升). Hemp pots develop from a sustainable source, are fully broken down and can be reused for several seasons.

A．They are durable

B．Limit the use of plastic in the garden

C．Wool pots can be used to start young plants

D．They are a replacement for those with limited growing space

E．Many gardeners have a collection of plastic plant pots over the years

F．Many of the pots in which plants were sold at the time were recyclable

G．In addition to fabric, there is also wood, cardboard, bamboo, rubber, and even wool

8 . Spending a day glued to your smartphone probably isn’t doing you any favors. Too much phone use has been linked with a range of concerns, including sleep issues, joint pain and even relationship problems. But if it’s radiation you’re worried about, experts say you don’t have to ditch your phone.

“There’s no risk of anything hazardous or dangerous with radiation from cellphones,” said Gayle Woloschak, an associate dean and professor of radiology at the Northwesterm Univerity Feinberg School of Medicine. As with all cellphones, along with Wi-Fi networks, radio stations, remote controls and GPS, smartphones do send out radiation, said Emily Caffrey, an assistant professor of health physics at the University of Alabama at Birningham. They use invisible energy waves to transmit voices, texts, photos and emails to nearby cell towers, which can carry them to almost anywhere in the world. But nearly three decades of scientific research has not linked such exposures to medical issues like cancer, health authorities including the Food and Drug Administration say. Here’s what we know.

“Radiation” describes many types of energy, some of which do carry risks, explained Dr. Howard Fine, director of the Brain Tumor Center at New York — Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, “It is often sent out from radioactive substances”, Atomic bombs, or, to a far lesser degree, X-ray machines, send out energy called ionizing radiation that in high enough or frequent enough amount can damage DNA and cause cancer, Dr. Fine said.

But smartphone energy falls into a category called non-ionizing radiation, Dr. Caffrey said, which isn’t powerful enough to cause this damage. “A lot of people think radiation is radiation, but it’s not all the same,” Dr. Woloschak said. “There’s no DNA damage seen from cellphone use.”

Most experts and health authorities like the F.D.A. and World Health Organization agree that there’s no evidence that smartphone radiation causes health problems. Still, several studies over the years have made headlines for suggesting their links to brain diseases. Many of these studies have since been proved to be false, Dr. Fine said, including those focused on fifth-generation.

1. What does the underlined word “ditch” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．Make use of.

B．Keep track of.

C．Get hold of

D．Get rid of.

2. Which statement best reflects the attitude of health authorities towards cellphone radiation?

A．They consider it secure based on current research.

B．They are indifferent due to lack of sufficient data.

C．They express concern and require strict regulations.

D．They are doubtful and appeal for immediate action.

3. What does this text mainly tell us?

A．Forming a healthy lifestyle is vital.

B．Smartphones need radiation limits.

C．Radiation concerns are unfounded.

D．Technology reduces radiation risks.

4. Where would this text most likely appear?

A．In a science magazine.

B．In a collection of short stories.

C．In a school newsletter.

D．In a phone advertising brochure.

9 . I turned 65 this February, a big milestone. The last 12 months has indeed been a time of profound thinking for me, but not for the reasons you may think.

Recently our culture has started to acknowledge that a perfect woman image is totally unrealistic. I suppose there are a small minority of women born with incredible genes. But for most of us, short of starving ourselves, having plastic surgery, or airbrushing our photos, perfection is an unattainable goal.

I applaud many celebrity women who have come forward recently and said, “Hey, you see that picture of me on the magazine cover. This is what I really looked like before specialized hair and makeup and the magic of Photoshop.” I am so happy that our daughters and granddaughters are being raised with a much more realistic concept of what beauty is.

Being a woman of a certain age, that old message of feminine (女性的) perfection took hold long ago and has been hard to shake. My legs, waist and stomach are bigger than the charts say they should be. I would avoid looking for too long in the mirror. A swimsuit always required a cover-up to be worn over it. I had been very successfully taught to be ashamed of my imperfect body.

However, after a pretty serious health issue last year, I started to have a different feeling about my body. This body has given me two incredible children and endured too many surgeries. My belly, back, feet and knees are marked with countless scars but finally I see what they truly are — my battle scars. My extra pounds are the result of countless dinners I have made and enjoyed with those I love. My scars remind me of all the talented and kind doctors and nurses who have looked after me.

My body has allowed me a wonderful life thus far. I thought my body was not ideal, but now I thank it for being a source of strength, endurance and pleasure. At 65, I finally realize it is truly beautiful.

1. Why did the author mention celebrity women in Paragraph 3?

A．To show perfection is difficult for celebrities to achieve.

B．To indicate the concept of beauty is becoming more realistic.

C．To suggest only a minority of women are born with incredible genes.

D．To prove a perfect body image requires a strict diet and much exercise.

2. What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The body parts that the author felt unsatisfied with.

B．The body image that a woman should keep at a certain age.

C．The tricks that the author used to avoid facing her imperfect body.

D．The effect that the traditional feminine perfection had on the author.

3. What made the author feel different about her body?

A．A severe health problem.	B．The impact of celebrity women.
C．The social concept of beauty.	D．Encouragement from her family.

4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the article?

A．To tell us what a perfect woman image should be.

B．To express her gratitude to the doctors and nurses.

C．To share her understanding of beauty after going through a lot.

D．To compare the beauty standards between the past and the present.

10 . Mark Brown, 57, had been making films for 30 years, but he found himself feeling tired of it. “I thought, things can only go downhill.” Brown knew he needed to do something else — but what? A few years earlier, he had bought his childhood house and moved in. While Brown wondered about a second care er in gardening, he heard a different internal voice. “That child who used to love drawing whispered to me down the years,” he said. Some unacknowledged longing in him was brought out.

There was a great oak tree near his home. It had stood out to his young self as a “fantastical giant — a treasure home to birds, insects and animals. There was a cave inside. We used to squeeze in through this hole.” He decided to lock himself away for two months to draw it in all its glorious detail.

“While I was drawing,” he said, “there came moments when it was as though the tree was drawing itself. I had spent so much time playing in it. I could feel it. It was deep inside me.” His finished oak held “a real power”, he said. “As you walk towards it, it just grows.” Brown became a tree portraitist.

Over the next few years, he travelled across Britain and spent days with the trees selected with the help of the Ancient Tree Forum, the Tree Council and the Woodland Trust. Brown has started work on a 20-drawing series of Britain’s most important ash trees. “These beautiful old ash trees are going to be lost to us,” he says. “They are 350 years old and they are dying because of a disease that we’ve spread.”

Drawing is not only an act of care and a demand for preservation, but it “gives me that interface between my passion for the natural world and my creativity,” Brown says. It has also given him a different perspective on the passage of time. “I’m an old man yet I’m only 71, and some of the trees I’ve drawn are 1,000 years old. When I’m with them and when I draw them, I think about the end of my life and the brief nature of human life that passes momentarily beneath them.”

1. At the age of 57, Brown ______.

A．moved into his old house	B．awakened a childhood interest
C．reached the peak of his life	D．developed a passion for gardening

2. What can we learn about the oak tree and Brown?

A．It helped him start a new career.	B．It linked him with the world.
C．He built a tree house in it.	D．He studied creatures in it.

3. What is Brown working on?

A．Setting up tree organizations.	B．Looking for cures for tree diseases.
C．Drawing to call for protection for trees.	D．Travelling to select important trees in Britain.

4. When Brown is with trees, he feels that ______.

A．time is endless	B．human life is temporary
C．nature is dynamic	D．life-long learning is crucial